Beverage cabinets



Nov. 9, 1965 N. N. BRENNER BEVERAGE CABINETS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July6, 1964 INVENTOR.

h. A. Brenner did,

Nov. 9, 1965 N. N. BRENNER BEVERAGE CABINETS Filed July 6, 1964 2Sheets-Sheet 2 jajmlljll 1111:}; u I L: w: z": 5:: Til L :E 1 :5 E: a: wI n I rtlll lli FIILEIIIIFL; 7) fi II I 5 KAI I IJWI 5 o L "fi m W 2 W I7 fi H Aw FL United States Patent 3,216,775 BEVERAGE CABINETS Norman N.Brenner, 447 Wendell Ave., Kitchener, Ontario, Canada Filed July 6,1964, Ser. No. 380,246 3 Claims. (Cl. 312-236) The present inventionrelates to improvements in cooling enclosures for beverages, foods andthe like, and particularly for alcoholic beverages, specifically beerand ale, an object of the invention being to provide, in such a cabinet,of any size and number of rotary units (as hereinafter described)wherein each rotary unit comprises a vertically disposed, rotatable rodupon which a plurality of encircling, circular shelves are mounted invariable superposed relationship such that the shelves may be rotatedindependently of the rod they encircle for convenient access, and inwhich the rods, with the shelves thereon may be slowly rotated due tothe fact that each shelf is supported on a collar having an upperbearing surface interfacing the underside of the associated shelfwhereby the co-efiicient of friction between the two surfaces issuflicient to rotate the shelves When the rod is .being slowly rotatedby a source of power, usually in the orderof 10 r.p.m.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a cabinet asaforesaid below which the source of power for rotating the rod or aplurality of spaced rods (and shelves) is positioned, a coolingcompartment also being provided below the cabinet, said coolingcompartment either being one and the same as that which contains thesource of power (herein called the power compartment) or separatetherefrom, together with a duct extending upwardly from the coolingcompartment against one wall of said enclosure, the duct being intendedto convey a current of cool air into the enclosure and having a variablyopenable vent at the upper end thereof, as well as a plurality ofpreferably variable openable vents upon the length thereof whereby coolair may be admitted into the cooling enclosure between the variousshelves therein.

A further object of the present invention is to provide circular shelvesof the character herewithin described Which are individuallymulti-apertured so that cold air may be circulated downwardlytherethrough upon its return to a cooling compartment below theenclosure.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such others as may becomeapparent as this specification proceeds, the present invention consistsin the following arrangement and construction of parts, all ashereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to theaccompanying figures in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation, partly fragmented and with the doorsopen, of the present invention as embodying two rotary units.

FIGURE 2 is a plan View of FIGURE 1 illustrating the manner in which thecooling enclosure of the present invention may occupy a position withinan opening in a room or compartment dividing wall, and illustrating themanner in which the enclosure may be replenished from a store (behind abarroom for example) and extracted from, within the bar.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the invention according to FIGURES 1 and2.

FIGURE 4 is a plan elevation of one of the circular shelves.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional representation of one of the circular shelves.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation of an alternative modification of thepresent invention showing the pump in a modification showing the coolingcoil and pump on a single 3 216,775 Patented Nov, :9, .1965

level below .the beverage containing or cooling enclosure, it beingunderstood that in this embodiment the'source of power or drive for theshelf-supporting rods will be to one side of the cooling coil as alsoindicated.

In the drawings, like characters of reference designate similar parts inthe several figures.

The present invention may be summarized conceptually as the combinationwith a cooling enclosure collectively designated 1 comprising walls 2,floor 3, roof 4 and a door or doors 5, of a vertical, shelf-carrying rodor rods 6 and 7 (although it is to be understood there may well be morethan two such rods) surrounding which are circular shelves 7 Such rodsand shelves may conveniently be referred to herein as rotary units.

The shelves 7' are preferably apertured as at '8 to permit the passageof air, mainly downwardly, though not necessarily, therethrough. Alsosurrounding the rods 6 and 7 and securable thereto at selected positionsthereon, are cylindrical collars 9, said collars having upper, annular,bearing surfaces 10 at right angles to the longitudinal axes of theaforesaid rods. They may be secured at any desired position upon thelength of the rods, as aforesaid, by means such as the set-screws 11.

The shelves 7' are free of rods 6 and 7 and hence are free to rotateindependently of the rods. However, when the rods are slowly rotated bya source of power presently to be described, the shelves will rotatewith them due to the coelficient of friction between said shelves andsaid bearing surfaces. In this connection it will be noted that theshelves 7' are preferably provided with downwardly projecting annularbosses 12 having bearing surfaces of similar diameter to the bearingsurfaces 10 of the collars 9.

Rails 13 are preferably provided within the compartment 1 slightly abovethe levels generally occupied by the shelves 7 to lessen thepossibilities of the bottles or cans being knocked off. In plan view (byreference to the accompanying FIGURE 2) it will be observed that theenclosure 1 is of generally rectangular conformation and willfrequently, if not usually, be recessed so that it projects upon eitherside of a dividing wall 13 separating a bar for example (in the area 14)from a store room (in the area 15). The enclosure 1 is so designed thatwares may be withdrawn through the door or doors 5 for sale, andreplenished by the storekeeper via the door or doors 16. The floor 3 isapertured as at 17, and below the enclosure 1 a power compartment 18 islocated. In the embodiment of FIGURE 1 a cooling compartment 19 ispositioned between compartment 18 and enclosure 1, but by modificationsof design it will be apparent that under some circumstances it may bedesirable to combine compartments 18 and 19 into one.

Rod 7 (which is an idler rod as will presently become apparent) may besunk into and supported upon the endthrust bearing 20. The driving rod 6is socketed in the end-thrust bearing 21 in compartment 18. Keyed to theshaft slightly above the bearing 21 is a large diameter pulley 22 towhich is connected a belt 23 passing around a smaller pulley 24. Pulley24 is driven by a reduction gearing assembly of conventional designconnected to motor 25 secured to platform 26.

A false roof 27 is provided above roof 4, and through the latter roofrod 6 extends to terminate in the area 28 in a pulley 29 around whichpasses a belt 30. Upon rod 7 is a similar pulley 31. Around this belt 30also passes from which it will be obvious that rod 7 is rotated by rod6.

Within compartment 19 is a conventional cooling coil 32 through whichreturn air from the floor apertures 17 passes, to be drawn into theimpeller or pump 33 (see FIGURE 3). The outlet orifice 34 of this pumpis in communication with or contiguous to the lower end of a verticalduct collectively designated 35. In the embodiment of the accompanyingFIGURE 1, it will be most convenient to locate this duct centrallyagainst wall 36 (that is to say against the strip separating the twodoors 16). However, in a cooling enclosure comprising only one rotaryunit (as already defined) there may preferably be two ducts of theconformation indicated by phantom lines 37 in the accompanying FIGURE 2from which it will be seen that they are located against the side walls38 and the aforesaid rear wall 36, it being again understood of coursethat sufficient rear will be provided for this purpose on either side ofthe opening for the (single rotary unit) enclosure. It is not tooimportant that the impeller orifice 34 be in direct communication withthe intakes of the duct 35 or ducts 37 (which of course communicate withcompartment 19) since the whole compartment may be said to be more orless pressurized by the presence of the operating pump 33.

In any event, the duct 35 or the ducts 37 should be provided with vents.The principal vent in the case of the duct 35 is designated 39. By bestreference to the accompanying FIGURE 1 it will be seen to inclineforwardly and downwardly. It may be fully open but is preferablyvariably openable by means of such as conventional butterfly or othervalves 40.

The side walls 41 of the duct 35 are also vented, and here toopreferably provided with variably openable valves 42 of conventionaldesign. As a result it will be apparent that very eflective cold aircirculation may be effected within the enclosure 1.

Finally, in the accompanying FIGURE 6 there is illustrated a compartment43 which is intended to C0111- bine the power and cooling compartments18 and 19 of the accompanying FIGURE 1. In this embodiment the coolingunit is designated 44. To the rear of same is the impeller 45 incommunication with duct 35. It will readily be appreciated that thesource of power comprising parts 22 through 25 supra are located on thefar side of the coil 44 as suggested by the depicted location of rod 6.

Since various modifications can be made to the novel subject matterherein, without departing from'the inventive concept which the sameembodies, it is not intended that protection of this invention byletters patent should be interpreted as restricted to the particularmodification or modifications thereof particularly described andexemplified.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a cabinet for beverages, feeds and the like, comprising anenclosure for said beverages, foods and the like,

a floor, a roof, and a door, in combination, a cooling compartment belowsaid enclosure, a power compartment also below said enclosure, a ductagainst one wall of said enclosure extending vertically from saidcooling compartment substantially to the top of said cooling enclosure,an air-discharge vent in said duct, a vertical, shelf-carrying rod, saidrod extending through said compartments, said rod being supported in athrustbearing in the lower of said compartments, an impeller within saidpower compartment, a plurality of circular shelves surrounding said rod,a plurality of cylindrical collars also surrounding said rod, saidcollars having upper annular bearing surfaces at right angles to saidrod, means for securing said collars at selected positions on the lengthof said rod, said shelves being supported on said collars, and beingrotatable thereon independently of said rod, and a source of powerwithin said power compartment for slowly rotating said rod and saidshelves due to the co-efiicient of friction between said shelves andsaid bearing surfaces.

2. The duct according to claim 1 in which said vent is at the upper endof said duct and inclines forwardly and downwardly toward the interiorof said enclosure.

3. The duct according to claim 1 which has a discharge aperture thereinwithin said cooling enclosure and in which said vent is at the upper endof said duct, the same inclining forwardly and downwardly toward theinterior of said cooling enclosure, said duct having a front wall and apair of side walls which incline rearwardly from said front wall towardthe wall of said enclosure against which said duct is positioned, and aplurality of variably openable vents in said side walls, the said ventin the upper end of said duct being also variably openable.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,143,279 6/15Johnson l0820 2,346,914 4/44 Drucker 312- X 2,428,717 10/47 Moores 62414X 2,633,003 3/53 Jordan 62408 X 2,822,672 2/58 Dickson 62418 X 2,826,0463/58 Tobiasz 62414 X 3,056,506 10/62 Fuller 211l.5

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner

1. IN A CABINET FOR BEVARAGES, FEEDS AND THE LIKE, COMPRISING ANENCLOSURE FOR SAID BEVERAGES, FOODS AND THE LIKE, A FLOOR, A ROOF, AND ADOOR, IN COMBINATION, A COOLING COMPARTMENT BELOW SAID ENCLOSURE, APOWER COMPARTMENT ALSO BELOW SAID ENCLOSURE, A DUCT AGAINST ONE WALL OFSAID ENCLOSURE EXTENDING VERTICALLY FROM SAID COOLING COMPARTMENTSUBSTANTIALLY TO THE TOP OF SAID COOLING ENCLOSURE, AN AIR-DISCHARGEVENT IN SAID DUCT, A VERTICAL, SHELF-CARRYING ROD, SAID ROD EXTENDINGTHROUGH SAID COMPARTMENTS, SAID ROD BEING SUPPORTED IN A THRUST-BEARINGIN THE LOWER OF SAID COMPARTMENTS, AN IMPELLER WITHIN SAID POWERCOMPARTMENT, A PLURALITY OF CIRCULAR SHELVES SURROUNDING SAID ROD, APLURALITY OF CYLINDRICAL COLLARS ALSO SURROUNDING SAID ROD, SAID COLLARSHAVING UPPER ANNULAR BEAING SURFACES AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID ROD, MEANSFOR SECURING SAID COLLARS AT SELECTED POSITIONS ON THE LENGTH OF SAIDROD, SAID SHELVES BEING SUPPORTED ON SAID COLLARS, AND BEING ROTAT-